sāndàjiàn
the three big things
三大件 sāndàjiàn
- the three big things
- The three high-end consumer goods most desired at a specific time in China. In the 1970s this referred to 自行车 zìxíngchē, 缝纫机 féngrènjī, and 手表 shǒubiǎo; in the 1980s it referred to refrigerators, color televisions, and radio-cassette recorders.
- shackles and chains
- (archaic) The three types of heavy punishment tools consisting of handcuffs, leg irons, and neck locks.
- the new three big things
- Refers to the most desired luxury items for modern living, often associated with marriage, such as an apartment, a car, and a large bank account